Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Union, NJ -- For the second weekend in a row the State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team split its two matches, losing to Kean University 3-2 (20-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16, 12-15), while beating New Jersey City University 3-0 (25-12, 25-21, 27-25) in the Kean University Tri-Match Saturday.
 
The No. 8 ranked Hawks moved to 9-3 on the year. After the weekend split, SUNY New Paltz will have its biggest test of the season Wednesday when the reigning National Champion Springfield College Pride visit the Hawk Center.
 
"It was a test today against Kean," said Hawks coach Radu Petrus. "We already have been working in practice to improve our offense and serve receive. Hopefully we can come out better this Wednesday."
 
SUNY New Paltz came out flat in the first set against Kean University, falling down quickly 0-5 and forcing coach Petrus to call a timeout. The Hawks answered, coming back to take the lead 7-6 off a Riley Dolan kill and an attack error. The Cougars offense stayed persistent however, jumping out to a 17-13 lead and forcing SUNY New Paltz to call another timeout. The stoppage did not work, however, as Kean University kept its pace towards the finish to steadily take a 1-0 advantage by winning the set 25-20.
 
Fighting for position in the second set, two kills by junior middle blocker Nick O'Malley tied the set at 10. Kean University's offense went to work shortly after, producing a 5-2 run to take the lead back at 17-14. Another kill by O'Malley finally woke the Hawks offense up, manufacturing a 6-2 run of their own to take the lead back at 20-19 and force a Cougars timeout. 
 
With the set tied at 20, two kills by senior outside hitter Nick Smith and a service ace by junior outside hitter Aaron Carrk put SUNY New Paltz in a prime position to take the set. With the Hawks up 24-23, a service error won them the set 25-23, and tied the match at one.
 
Getting the offense going quickly in the third, SUNY New Paltz established an early four-point lead off an O'Malley kill to put the Hawks up, 12-8. SUNY New Paltz cruised through the set, keeping their slight four-point advantage at 19-15, but a service error by the Hawks suddenly swung the momentum. Kean University scored five unanswered points to gain the lead at 20-19, and put SUNY New Paltz in a tough spot.
 
The Hawks tied the set at 20, 22 and 23, but their efforts were not enough. Two kills by the Cougars won them the set, 25-23, and put Kean University up 2-1 in the match.
 
SUNY New Paltz's offense came out firing again in the fourth set, with a kill by senior outside hitter Bradley Schneider putting the Hawks up 15-9. Not long after, a service error by the Cougars resulted in a 4-0 run for SUNY New Paltz, placing them in prime position up, 19-11. The Hawks easily pushed towards the 25-16 set victory, tying the match once again at two.
 
In a back-and-forth fifth set, a kill by Smith tied the score at 10 for SUNY New Paltz. The Hawks could not come up with enough to pull out the win, however, as the Cougars went on a 5-2 run to seal the set 15-12, and win the match 3-2.
Coming off the tough loss, SUNY New Paltz came out hungry against New Jersey City University, as a service ace by sophomore middle blocker Sam Yakubowski put the Hawks up, 12-5. The Gothic Knights were no match for SUNY New Paltz's offense consisting of mostly bench players, who came up with a 6-1 run to go ahead by a 12-point margin at 22-10. The Hawks took the set 25-12, and the early 1-0 lead in the match.
 
Multiple errors by New Jersey City University allowed SUNY New Paltz to gain another early lead in the second set, going up 15-9. When the Gothic Knights came back to close the gap at 20-19, a 4-2 run forced set point at 24-21. A kill by freshman opposite and outside hitter Tim Drake sealed the set for the Hawks, 25-21, and gave SUNY New Paltz a 2-0 lead.
 
The Hawks offense would not stop in the third, as six unanswered points quickly resulted in a  9-3 cushion. A 5-1 run by New Jersey City University shortly brought the Gothic Knights back, down 11-9. With SUNY New Paltz  keeping the lead throughout, New Jersey City University suddenly came back to tie at 21.
 
With the Gothic Knights taking the lead at 25-24 to force set point itself, the Hawks proved ready to win the match. A kill by Drake, an attack error and a kill by O'Malley pushed them forward to a 27-25 set win, and a 3-0 victory.
 
"We're going to need our younger players in stretches of the season," Petrus said. "Hopefully they can continue to make a difference in our game during matches and in practice too."
 
SUNY New Paltz returns to action Wednesday night when the Hawks face rival Springfield College at 7 p.m. in the Hawk Center.

To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks,Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.